There's a lot of talk of love in the air in honor of Valentine's Day and a local woman says her heart never knew what love really was before she became a mom. This is Savannah's success story.
Two-year-old Savannah loves posing for pictures and her proud mom Nicole has hundreds of images as proof.
Nicole cherishes each day, each moment they spend together.
"It's a blessing, she just totally changed my life," Nicole said.
Mom and daughter communicate not only with words, but with sign language as well. Nicole was born deaf, born hard of hearing. She wears a hearing aid on one side and is totally deaf on the left side.
Savannah was just four-months-old when she was placed with Nicole.
"I feel like it was a match made in heaven," Nicole said.
Nicole is grateful to Savannah's biological mother for entrusting her with such a precious gift.
"Her birth mom had picked me out of the profile," explained Nicole. "So that's how I was matched with her."
Nicole says Savannah has touched her heart in a way she didn't know existed.
"I never knew what love was until she came into my life," Nicole continued. "It's amazing how, wow, I'm a mother to this beautiful child, and I can't imagine my life without her. I just can't imagine. I can't see how my life would be without Savannah."
Nicole says she's always wanted to make a difference in a child's life.
"It's just something I wanted to do since I was a little girl, since 10 years old," Nicole added.
When she started the process to first become a foster parent through San Diego County, Nicole was 27 years old and single and her family had doubts about the timing.
"To be honest, they weren't sure, only because I'm young and they felt like I hadn't really experienced life yet," Nicole said. "But once they saw me start the process and when I first became a foster parent, they just fell in love with the foster child we had and then they fell in love with Savannah when I was matched with her."
Now, her family is her biggest supporter.
"It's not difficult at all, a lot of people think it might be difficult but I think if you have a great support system, you have a great friend system and family. You can do it," Nicole added.
And with the need so great, Nicole encourages others to at least take that first step and attend an orientation.
"There's so many kids that need a home, a temporary home, a forever home, just do it," Nicole noted.
If you are interested in adopting from foster care or becoming a foster family, call 1-877-I-ADOPT-U to learn more about getting started. The County of San Diego offers monthly orientation classes.
